Chapter 5 – Discovery
"From Rush's behaviour, I'd say it's clear that Rockman and Roll were here at some point in time," came Yuuichiro's voice.
"Indeed," Glyde murmured, looking at what had once been a shop.
The operative words were 'had once been'. The shop and the surrounding area were nearly obliterated. A wall was missing from the building, looking as though it had been blasted into smithereens. Looking around at the devastation, Glyde's heart sank. Each piece of destruction decreased their chances of finding Roll unharmed.
"He's still going!" Iceman yelled as Rush, after sniffing around for a few moments, took off back through the shop's entrance.
In the street outside, he halted, taking a few steps in one direction, then backtracking to his original spot and stepping in another direction. Whining, he did this a few times.
"What's wrong?" Iceman asked, "Can't you track them anymore?"
"On the contrary, Iceman," Yuuichiro said, "I think Rockman's track must split from Roll's."
"Remember when he first found Rockman splitting off from Roll?" Glyde pointed out, still watching Rush. "We found that he had eventually returned to her – after leaving a trail of destruction in his wake."
"Good point," Yuuichiro nodded, "Tell him to follow the most recent scent."
Glyde relayed the information to Rush, who only looked more confused. And his restless pacing didn't change.
"Which directions did they go, Rush?" Yuuichiro asked.
In answer, Rush held up one finger, and mimed two curving antennae from the sides of his head.
"He's talking about Roll," Iceman reasoned.
Rush pointed down the street, gesturing emphatically.
"So, Roll went that way?" Iceman asked.
The dog nodded vigorously, then pretended to mimed pointing a weapon at Iceman.
"And Rockman went…"
Rush pointed up to the roofs above them.
"So, which one do we follow?"
Turning from the computer scree, Yuuichiro faced Meiru and Netto sitting beside him.
"It's your call," he said solemnly.
Meiru swallowed. She wanted so desperately to find Roll, but how must Netto feel? Rockman had apparently lost his mind and ran off into the depths of Internet City. Surely he deserved first consideration. If Roll had managed to run away it must mean she was still alright, but what about Rockman?
Meiru was just about to tell Dr. Hikari to go after Rockman when Netto spoke up.
"Tell Rush to follow Roll," he said firmly.
"Netto," Meiru breathed, her fingers coming up to brush at her lips. "But what about-"
"Rockman will be fine," Netto said with more conviction than he really felt. Wrapping his arm around her, he squeezed her shoulder comfortingly. He had to fight the urge to pull her into his arms and hold her there until he could see her usual, radiant smile again. Netto told himself that this was just a gesture of comfort between friends – he would have done the same for Tohru or Enzan.
'Yeah right,' Netto thought.
Meiru leaned into his reassuring warmth with a weak smile. She knew he must have wanted desperately to go after Rockman, and what it must have cost him to give the go ahead to follow Roll. She had to physically fight to keep her arms by her side and not give in to the desire to hug him.
Back in Internet City, Iceman and Glyde ran after Rush as he pelted down the street, wherever Roll had gone, she had gone in a hurry.
When Rush turned into an alley, the other navis nearly shot straight past. Reaching the alley's end, they found demolished buildings and what had once been a wall. Everything had been destroyed.
Suddenly Rush began to whine and turn in a circle, jumping up and down in front of what used to be the dead-end wall.
"What's up?" Iceman asked.
Rush again mimed pointing a gun in their direction, then pointed to the floor.
"I think he's saying Rockman was here," Yuuichiro supplied.
"Rockman joined up with Roll again?" Iceman tried.
"Or she escaped and he caught her again," Glyde murmured.
"Either way, Rockman and Roll become one trail again," Yuuichiro said, "At least we don't have to worry about following one or the other now."
He cast a reassuring smile at the two sitting behind him. Netto's arm was wrapped protectively around Meiru's shoulders and the redhead was resting on his shoulder. At his news, she smiled up at Netto and he grinned at her. Sitting together like that, the two of them…looked like they were about to kiss.
"So," Glyde's voice snapped Yuuichiro's attention back to the screen. "I presume we continue as before?"
"Oh yes," he nodded, "Go right ahead."
Later in the night, Roll stirred. Still not completely awake, and feeling as though her surroundings were filtering to her through damp cotton wool, she was vaguely aware of moaning beside her.
Shifting slightly, she focused on Rockman's face. He was moaning as though he was in pain, and his features were twisted into a grimace. What was wrong with him? He looked like he was having a nightmare, and Roll became alarmed when his body jerked against hers, and he let out a cry like a wounded bird. Whatever he was dreaming about was terrifying him.
Roll tried to sit up, but his arms tightened around her when she tried to pull away. Pinned to his body, she reached up towards his face, trying to wake him. She caressed his cheek in an effort to reassure him.
"It's okay Rockman," she soothed, "I'm right here. Nothings going to hurt you, it's alright."
Roll hadn't really expected her ministrations to have any affect, she had hoped for one, but never for such a marked or immediate reaction. He stilled beneath her hands, unconsciously leaning into her touch and Roll couldn't help but smile. He knew who she was. Unconsciously maybe, but he still knew. His face relaxed, and only a few minutes after Roll had woken, he was sleeping soundly again.
Now that he was quiet, Roll remained awake for a while, watching him sleep. He looked so peaceful, as though he had never lost control. Roll prayed that the others would be able to figure out a way to get him back. She thought of Meiru and Netto, and wished they could know that both she and Rockman were alright.
Eventually Roll drifted off again.
"This has to be it," Glyde said, looking up at the empty warehouse. "Roll and Rockman went inside, and Rush hasn't been able to find any sign that they left."
"So they're somewhere in here," Iceman muttered, "Do we go in guns blazing or do we sneak?"
"I believe it would be best to move as quietly as possible. We don't want to startle Rockman and push him into…something hasty."
They eased the side door open and crept carefully into the warehouse. It was mostly empty, no sign of either Roll or Rockman. There were certainly no nooks or crannies to hide in, and for several minutes both navis were completely bewildered as to where they had gone.
Then Glyde spotted a door at the back of the warehouse. He tapped Iceman's shoulder and silently nodded towards it.
Both crept towards the door and opened it as quietly as they could, privately dreading what they would find.
But as their gaze landed on the bed, everyone breathed a silent sigh of relief. Iceman and Glyde's tense postures relaxed, Yuuichiro and Tohru slumped in their chairs and Yaito smiled. Netto and Meiru scrambled to get a good look at the viewing screen, and when they did, identical grins broke out on both their faces. Apparently, they needn't have worried.
Roll and Rockman were asleep on the bed, curled together like lovers. Both Rockman's arms encircled Roll, who was resting her head on his chest, one of her arms draped casually across his waist.
"Is Rockman back to normal?" Iceman asked, breaking the code of silence.
The reaction was immediate. Rockman's eyes snapped open and he twisted upright on the mattress, shoving Roll behind him as he did so. The pink navi gave a muffled groan as she returned to the waking world.
Glyde and Iceman took several giant steps backward when Rockman pointed his Rockbuster at them. His lips curled into a snarl reminiscent of an enraged wolf and one look into those hard eyes convinced the others that there had been no change in Rockman's condition.
Roll awoke to the sensation that she was tumbling, hitting something soft within a matter of moments. With a groan, she opened her eyes to find Rockman's boot inches from her cheek. What was happening now? Were they being attacked again?
Shaking off the last vestiges of sleep, Roll sat up on the bed. Without turning his head, Rockman placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping her from standing up.
"I'm staying down," Roll said patiently, "But who's after us this time?"
Leaning slightly to the side to peer around Rockman's leg, Roll was astonished to see Iceman and Glyde.
"Hey, guys!" she said brightly, then, remembering how Rockman had fired on Glyde, "Glyde, are you okay? Rockman didn't-"
The rest of her words turned into a squeak of surprise when Rockman's hand on her shoulder suddenly shifted to push her harshly behind him.
Roll wavered, unable to get her balance with her legs underneath her, and was forced to grab Rockman's knee to steady herself. Vaguely aware of Iceman and Glyde's cries of alarm, Roll patted Rockman reassuringly on the back of his calf.
"Take it easy," she admonished, "I'm not going anywhere."
"Miss Roll, are you hurt?" Glyde asked.
While he knew it was polite to look at the person you were speaking to, he didn't dare take his eyes off of Rockman for even an instant. He was still glaring at Glyde and Iceman, still threatening them with his Rockbuster. Glyde had a feeling the only reason he hadn't fired was because they hadn't dared to move an inch.
"I'm fine," Roll smiled at the brown navi, "Not even a scratch."
"So Rockman didn't hurt you?"
Roll's eyes widened.
"Hurt me? No! He protected me!"
The other's blank looks told her clearly they didn't have any idea what she was talking about. So Roll gave them the shortened version of events.
"We were in this building earlier, and we got attacked by this giant bird. Really!" she insisted, seeing their eyebrows rise, "A giant red hawk."
"Anyway, it blew a hole in the door and tried to blast us but Megaman pulled me out of the way. Then he knocked it into the street outside and it was pretending to be unconscious, and Rockman never suspected it was a trap. He's not really thinking clearly like this. But anyway, it was about to take him out so I got it to chase me and it cornered me in an alley and started to fire on me. And I was thinking that this was it, I was as good as deleted, but Rockman came out of nowhere and he…"
Roll looked up at the blue navi, and her smile became tender. "He got between me and the blast. He used himself as a shield."
Her gaze landed again on the two navis opposite her.
"I mean, I patched us both up after I sent Featherbrain packing, but my point is that he saved me. Rockman didn't have to, but he did, and put himself in danger to do it."
"So," Roll concluded, eyes blazing, "If you think he's going to hurt me after that, I say you're out of your mind!"
For a few moments, both Glyde and Iceman remained mute, completely stunned by Roll's passionate speech.
"But wait a minute," Iceman spoke, "When he grabbed hold of you, we could tell he was hurting you."
Roll shrugged. "I can take a bit of rough handling. And it wasn't even deliberate, or at least, I don't think it's deliberate. It's more like he's not compensating for his strength – like he forgets he can hurt me if he grips too tight. It's not malicious or anything. In all this time, he's never actually hit me."
She chose not to mention the little (little?) kissing scenario in the shop. Even she wasn't sure what to think of it, and would rather keep it to herself for now.
What Glyde and Iceman would have said in reply to her statement, Roll never knew. Just as Glyde seemed about to speak, Rockman fired. Apparently his decision had been reached – Glyde and Iceman were threats. As soon as the Rockbuster started to glow, both navis launched themselves backwards and out through the door. Rockman's shot hit the door instead, obliterating it.
With an animalistic growl of rage, Rockman leapt off the bed and away from Roll. He looked like he was going to attack again, raising his Rockbuster with the same delighted snarl Roll had seen on his face earlier. She couldn't let him hurt them!
"No, Rockman!" she yelled, lunging off the bed to grab his arm, trying to hold him back.
"Rockman, they're not going to hurt you – Rock, please listen to me," she pleaded, words pouring forth in her desperate rush to keep him from doing something he would never forgive himself for.
"Rockman-" was all she managed to get out before he flung her off his arm.
The momentum threw her into the wall, and Roll collapsed with a pained cry.
At the sound, Rockman froze, his head flicking between Roll and the doorway. He looked undecided as to whether to go to her, or hunt Iceman and Glyde. Roll realised that she might be able to persuade him to leave them alone.
"Rockman…" she appealed, still lying on the floor.
Rockman stared at her, and seemed to come to a decision. He left the door behind and strode to her, his Rockbuster transforming back to his usual appendage. Rockman bent, wrapped one arm about her shoulders, the other under the crook of her knees, and lifted Roll easily to cradle against his chest.
As it looked like they were in for another record-breaking sprint, Roll buckled herself in by arranging her arms around his neck. It wasn't that she thought he was going to drop her; it was just she felt more comfortable that way. Even if cuddling herself into his chest was making her blush.
She was proved right when Rockman tore out the doorway as soon as she was settled in his arms. Roll barely had time to yell out a quick goodbye to Glyde and Iceman before they were out of the warehouse entirely and speeding down the street. With a great burst of energy, Rockman sprang to the top of the building and they were once again traversing the rooftops.
"So, where we going this time?" Roll couldn't resist asking.
She had the idea that Rockman understood her – to a certain extent. He certainly realised that he had hurt her back in the warehouse, but she wasn't sure if he was reading her actual words or just her tone. Either way, talking to him reassured her. It was a touch of normality in a very weird situation, though under usual circumstances he would be talking back. Now he was silent as a statue.
"I find out when we get there huh?" Roll gave a nervous sort of laugh, "Just no more surprises like Mr. Red Hawk, okay?"
She was getting used to talking without getting any answer. Silent Rockman was a great listener, even if he wasn't technically listening to her. But that didn't matter, somehow they would all figure out a way to get him back.
Roll smiled at him, a big, wide, ear-to-ear grin and tightened her arms around him in a brief hug.
"You'll be fine, Rockman," she told him, "In spite of the whole trying-to-delete-our-friends bit, you're going to make it. And I'm right here with you."
Roll relaxed entirely in his grip, resting her head on his shoulder. "Face it, you're stuck with me."
"But where are we going, seriously?"
After watching Rockman sprint away with Roll held in his arms, everyone was motionless. Eventually, Glyde spoke.
"Well, I believe it is safe to say Miss Roll will remain unharmed."
"I told you!" Iceman grinned. "I told you he wouldn't hurt her!"
"But this just compounds the mystery," Yuuichiro said, shaking his head. "Rockman begins acting strangely for no reason at all, he attacks Iceman and Glyde without a second thought, he kidnaps Roll but he actively protects her…I have to say, I'm stumped."
Meiru breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, at least I know Roll's safe."
She smiled – really smiled – up at Netto. "You were right, Rockman wasn't going to hurt her. And I know she'll be alright because he's protecting her."
"Same goes for Rockman," Netto said, also looking very relieved. "Roll will be with him, she won't let him do anything stupid."
"But what makes Roll so different?" Tohru wondered. "I mean, he wasn't worried about firing on Iceman and Glyde, but when he accidentally threw her into the wall he looked…worried about her. Why?"
Netto and Meiru traded a glance. They both had their suspicions about Rockman and Roll, at times both navis could have shouted; 'WE'RE IN LOVE!' at the top of their lungs and still been more subtle.
They were pondering how to answer Tohru's question when Yaito cut in.
"Should Glyde and Iceman keep following them?"
"I believe so," Yuuichiro nodded. "Just to make sure they don't run into anyone else. But I don't think it's likely – Internet City's rather deserted today, isn't it?"
"Yeah, we noticed that," Iceman said as he and Glyde began following Rush again.
"Do you think there's a connection?" Meiru asked. "Rockman going nuts, the city being conveniently empty…maybe whoever's doing this wanted him to go after something in particular?"
"It's possible," Netto's father conceded. "But until we know more, we only guess. Right now boys and girls, I suggest you just sit back and relax – with the speed Rockman was running at, I'd say it'll be a while before Glyde and Iceman catch up."
"Did anyone think of calling Enzan?" Yaito exclaimed suddenly. "I bet Blues could catch up to them pretty quickly."
"I tried, but he's overseas. Some sort of conference." Yuuichiro murmured.
"So it's just us," Tohru supplied.
Netto shrugged. "But come on, this isn't exactly an emergency. We've seen that Roll can call Rockman off, so all we have to do is figure out who might have set this up."
